Who Created Framer? Founders, Investors & Future of Web Design

Framer is a $2B design-first platform that lets you create, publish, and grow websites faster than ever. Designers call it their go-to tool because it offers creativity with performance. With over 500,000 active users and major brands like Miro, Perplexity AI, and Scale AI on board, Framer has become one of the most talked-about names in web design.

So, who actually created Framer? The story begins with two Dutch founders, Koen Bok and Jorn van Dijk, who once sold their award-winning studio Sofa to Facebook. Their vision was bold: close the painful gap between design and code. That mission gave birth to Framer in 2014, a journey that has since reshaped the way websites get built.

But knowing the founders is not enough. Keep reading to its investors, its business growth, its competitors, and the latest milestones.

Framer at a Glance

Who created Framer?

Framer was created by Koen Bok and Jorn van Dijk in Amsterdam in 2014. Before that, they co-founded Sofa, a design studio known for award-winning Mac apps. 

Facebook acquired Sofa in 2011, where both worked on major products like Messages, Ads, Video, and Photos. By late 2013, they left Facebook aiming to build something for the next 10–20 years. 

Their solution became Framer, a platform where you design and publish directly. This shift turned their vision into a global, billion-dollar company.

Framer Early Creation & Establishment History

Framer started in 2014–2015 with one clear goal: remove the painful gap between design and code. Their first release, Framer Classic, was a $40 prototyping tool that spread quickly across teams at Dropbox, Twitter, Microsoft, and Amazon. 

Over the next years, the product evolved into Framer X and later Framer Web. Yet adoption slowed, as high-fidelity prototypes never replaced static design. 

In 2018, the founders made a bold “make or break” pivot toward full website creation. That decision paid off. By May 2022, Framer launched its Website Builder, winning designers with a Figma-like interface and one-click publishing.

Framer  Investors and Funding Journey

Every funding round for Framer felt like a checkpoint in a bigger race. Each time, new backers pushed the company further toward its bold vision.

• Series C (2023) – Framer raised $27M. Meritech Capital led, with Atomico, Accel, and Foundation Capital joining. This round wasn’t just capital. It was a green light for the pivot into website building. Investors saw frustrated designers trapped in Figma-to-Webflow loops and backed Framer as the escape route.

• Series D (2025) – Framer closed $100M, again led by Meritech and Atomico. This time the payoff was clear: a $2B valuation. Investors doubled down because revenue touched $50M ARR, profitability was real, and enterprise brands like Miro, Perplexity, and Scale AI were already on board.

Framer’s backers weren’t just betting on software. They were betting on a shift in how the web itself gets built.

What Makes Framer Different? Key Features & AI Magic

Framer doesn’t just promise faster websites. It changes how you, as a designer, move from concept to live product in a single flow.

Figma-Like Interface

The UI feels instantly familiar if you design in Figma. Frames, auto-layout, and components work the same way, so you move fast without learning new systems.

Instant Publishing

You design, press publish, and your site is live. No developer handoff, no rebuild. Performance, SEO, and hosting are already built in from the start.

AI-Driven Drafting

Type a prompt and create Framer templates page layouts, copy, and imagery. The output isn’t final, but gives you a strong base to refine quickly.

Integrated CMS

You can build collections for blogs or updates, reuse components, and scale content. Localization and multi-language options make it fit for growing global businesses.

Animations and Interactions

Motion feels natural, not hacked. You can add scroll effects, smooth transitions, or import Lottie files to give your website polish without writing code.

Inside the Business: Growth, ARR, and Customer Adoption

• Revenue Growth – By mid-2025, Framer crossed $50M ARR. The team now eyes $100M ARR within a year. Investors see the curve pointing up.

• Profitability – Unlike many peers, Framer runs break-even. Growth comes without burning through cash, a rare sight in SaaS today.

• User Base – More than 500,000 designers log in monthly. What started as a niche tool now drives mainstream adoption.

• Enterprise Shift – Business plans flipped the mix. Most new signups are companies, not just freelancers or small teams.

• Key Clients – Names like Miro, Perplexity AI, and Scale AI use Framer for their core websites. Even 40% of YC’s latest batch jumped in.

• Team Size – Behind it all stands a lean crew of about 45 people. A tiny team, scaling like a giant.

Top Competitors of Framer to Know in 2025

Framer operates in one of the most competitive markets in tech. To understand its position, you need to see who else is shaping the no-code website builder space. Here are some of the top competitors:

The Latest News: $2B Valuation and Series D Funding

In August 2025, Framer secured a $100M Series D, led by Meritech and Atomico, lifting its valuation to $2 billion. The raise marked a turning point: Framer now sits among the top no-code website builders, competing with giants like Webflow, Wix, and Squarespace. 

The company runs profitably at $50M ARR, aiming for $100M ARR in 2026. Enterprise growth drives this surge, with new business plans attracting companies such as Miro, Perplexity AI, Scale AI, and 40% of Y Combinator’s latest batch. 

Framer’s focus is now clear, owning the enterprise web market with speed, design polish, and AI-driven creation.

Conclusion: The Future of Web Design with Framer

The future of web design is moving toward speed, simplicity, and intelligence and Framer sits at the front of this change. By combining a design-first workflow with instant publishing and AI-driven creation, Framer removes old barriers between ideas and live websites. 

Its growing enterprise adoption and $2B valuation show that this model is more than a trend. The future of web design with Framer is clear: a world where designers build complete, scalable, high-performance sites without relying on developers.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Question: Is Framer free to use?

Answer: Yes, Framer has a free plan with basic features. Paid plans unlock CMS, custom domains, and advanced publishing options for professional use.

Question: Does Framer include e-commerce features?

Answer: No, Framer does not have native e-commerce. You can integrate platforms like Shopify, Gumroad, or Lemon Squeezy through embeds.

Question: Can Framer handle large websites?

Answer: Framer is ideal for marketing and business sites. For large, content-heavy websites, enterprise plans with higher limits are required.

Question: What makes Framer different from Webflow?

Answer: Webflow often needs coding knowledge. Framer is true no-code, with a Figma-like interface and AI tools that speed up creation.

Question: Where is Framer headquartered?

Answer: Framer is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with team members also based in Barcelona and other global hubs.